Fayegh Abdolahzadeh; Mahmoudreza Peyravi; Pirhossein Kolivand; Hossein Bagherian; Nahid Tavakoli
Volume 24, Issue 6 , 2022
Abstract
Background: Effective communication and timely information exchange during disasters and emergencies can help the responsive organizations prepare better and react rapidly and effectively in order to mitigate losses and casualties.
Objectives: This study summarizes the experiences of experts at Irans ...
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Background: Effective communication and timely information exchange during disasters and emergencies can help the responsive organizations prepare better and react rapidly and effectively in order to mitigate losses and casualties.
Objectives: This study summarizes the experiences of experts at Irans Relief and Rescue Organization and Emergency Organization with regard to how communication and information exchange contributed in response to the past disasters.
Methods: The content analysis approach was used in this qualitative study. The statistical population included the operational managers and employees of Irans Relief and Rescue Organization and Emergency Organization from different provinces with various in managerial and field work's experiences at high, middle, and operational levels as well as experiences with local, provincial, regional, national, and international disasters. The purposive sampling method was employed to collect data through semi-structured interviews with 24 participants. Data analysis was performed in MAXQDA 12.
Results: The results of analyzing the interviews extracted a main theme of communication and information exchange with two categories. The first category was identified as intra-organizational communication and information exchange with seven subcategories called organizational individuals and departments, communication channels, communication model, message content, purpose of communication, standards and instructions, and challenges. The second category was identified as inter-organizational communication and information exchange with six subcategories called organizational individuals and departments, communication channels, communication model, message content, purpose of communication, and challenges.
Conclusion: The participants believed that there were limited horizontal communications and information exchange between Irans Relief and Rescue Organization and Irans Emergency Organization at the same level via fixed phones, mobile phones, and wireless radios in response to disasters. Therefore, disturbance to accurate timely communication and information exchange between organizations, especially in the first 24 hours of a disaster and lack of inter-organizational agreements and communication infrastructure result in the further vulnerability of victims, Red Crescent rescuers, and emergency technicians.
Hassan Araghizadeh; Mahmoudreza Peyravi; Simintaj Sharififar; Milad Ahmadi Marzaleh
Volume 22, Issue 1 , 2020
Abstract
Background: A large number of natural disasters, including floods and earthquakes, occur in Iran annually. Recognition of the factors influencing the civil-military coordination in natural disasters is amongst the prerequisites in disaster management. Experts perspectives towards coordination in ...
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Background: A large number of natural disasters, including floods and earthquakes, occur in Iran annually. Recognition of the factors influencing the civil-military coordination in natural disasters is amongst the prerequisites in disaster management. Experts perspectives towards coordination in these disasters can also be indicative of the importance of this subject. Given the fact that no studies have been carried out regarding the relationship between the civil and military forces in the aftermath of natural disasters in Iran, these factors can be recognized according to individuals and experts viewpoints.
Objectives: The present study aimed at extracting the factors influencing the civil-military coordination in the course of natural disasters in Iran through interviewing experts in 2019.
Methods: The present qualitative research was conducted through semi-structured and in-depth interviews with 20 key informants who were selected via snowball, convenience, and purposive sampling methods. A session was also held with the presence of the panel of experts. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis in order to extract the factors influencing the civil-military coordination in natural disasters in Iran.
Results: The factors influencing the coordination between the military and civil organizations were categorized into personnel, stuff, and system issues (structure). In addition, 33 subcategories were also identified. The specialists emphasized that holding instructional courses and regular and periodic exercises could enhance coordination in response to disasters.
Conclusions: The present study showed that coordination between civil and military organizations in the management of natural disasters in Iran is faced with many challenges that should be overcome and reduced through providing organizational, political, and structural supports. Recognition of the factors influencing coordination can be effective in line with the correct management of natural disasters. Furthermore, organizations can be made readier for taking better measures in disasters according to the extracted factors. In order to provide a proper response to natural disasters, all coordination components should be elevated simultaneously and coherently.
